Captivated by the Ruler of the Underworld
Chapter 159 A Gamble for Sight

"How can you be so sure?" Charles certainly didn't see it that way.

"Because I said so." The arrogance in his tone was palpable.

The dealer approached with a seductive stride, holding a golden tray in her hands.

These cards, treated with the latest technology from country D, were impervious even to X-rays. Vetted by seasoned gambling experts, every card was monitored by X-ray scanners, even during shuffles, to prevent any possibility of cheating. To forestall any violent gunplay, every attendee had been scanned upon entry; bodyguards were allowed, but firearms were strictly prohibited.

Even the water glasses present were plastic.

The dealer effortlessly shuffled the deck, her slender fingers dancing across the cards, which seemed to have a memory of their own, fluttering through the air before settling back into her hands.

Once the cards were shuffled, the dealer swiped her hand across, spreading a thick stack evenly across the table.

The first game was Blackjack.

The dealer dealt a card clockwise to Lela, then another to Yaz.

Then, she distributed cards counterclockwise.

The counterclockwise cards were community cards visible to both players.

Lela didn't rush to flip his card but instead gazed at the king showing on the table and smirked. "I'll pass on this hand," he announced in a crisp, masculine voice. Pass!

Yaz raised an eyebrow, disdain flickering in his eyes.

In the second round, Lela passed again.

The third, yet another pass.

After several hands, Yaz was visibly bewildered and frustrated.

Whispers began to circulate among the spectators.

"What's with this 'King of Gamblers'? He's got good cards; why is he folding?"

"Who knows?"

"Maybe he can't afford to lose?"

Mildred Gomez was also puzzled, turning to her boss with a question, "Sir, what's the 'King of Gamblers' up to?"

Sylvester's lips curled. "She's trying to rattle the opponent with a mind game."

Finally, Yaz could take no more. "Mr. 'King of Gamblers,' what are you playing at?"

The dealer was equally perplexed.

Seeing Yaz growing irate, Lela's mood soared. She glanced at the chips on the table and grabbed the microphone nearby, his voice booming, "Gambling is all about luck. I find straight betting dull year after year. How about we change up the game, folks?"

That suggestion set the room abuzz.

Someone even called out, "King of Gamblers, what do you propose we bet on?"

Lela coolly responded, "That depends on whether Mr. Yaz is up for the challenge."

Yaz had always considered fortune a major factor in gambling. He had been lucky since childhood. Initially, a pawn in a royal power struggle intended to be a casualty. Yet Charles saw potential in him and spared his life.

Escaping death wasn't a skill everyone possessed.

"Let's gamble then, but I wonder, what is it you want to bet on, Mr. 'King of Gamblers'?"

"One pair of eyes," Lela declared, her voice thunderous. "One game to determine the winner. The loser has to leave their eyes behind forever. How about that?"

Before Yaz could respond, the crowd in the stands were on their feet, shouting.

"King of Gamblers, you're cool. I'm with you."

"Go for it, Yaz. You're not scared, are you?"

"This freaking game of stakes, it's giving me the creeps, but damn, I love it."

Betting money was old news; if you lost it, you could just earn it back.

But organs? Once you lose those, they're gone for good.

Everyone was buzzing with excitement over the proposition, everyone except Sylvester in the crowd. The mention of gambling a pair of eyes almost made him explode with rage.